Encapsulated mailbox



Oct. 22, 1963 M. e. PENTA ENCAPSULATED MAILBOX Filed May 25, 1962 1 lill yu l l United States Patent 3,107,848 ENCAESULATED MAILBOX Michael G.Penta, 172 Bcdell St., Freeport, N.Y. Filed May 25, 1962, Ser. No.197,779 2 Claims. (Cl. 232-17) This invention relates to a mailbox beingsubstantially covered or encapsulated in a plastic spaced-apart coveringor sheath.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel mailbox of greatutility.

It is another object to provide a mailbox that also functions as a housesign.

It is a further object to provide a mailbox that is resistant to rainand that at the same time permits viewing within the box to see if thereis mail therein.

It is another object to provide a mailbox that is resistant to weatherconditions.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent uponreading the following descriptive disclosure taken in conjunction withthe drawing of a plurality of embodiments shown in the accompanyingdrawing and in which- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rural typemailbox, broken-away in part, to show its construction,

FIG. 2 is a section view showing the manner of enclosing the inner boxwithin an outer plastic casing,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a house type mailbox,

FIG. 4 is a bottom view taken on line 4-4 of the mailbox of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a view taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

According to this invention an inner mail receiving box of metal orplastic and like material is substantially encased in suitablespaced-apart relationship to an outer transparent plastic covering orsheath. The inner mail receiving box is provided with a suitableplurality of suit ably proportioned apertures adjacent its bottom wallto permit viewing inside the mailbox. These apertures are covered by thesheath of transparent plastic so that no rain water can enter into theapertures. Clearly also on a rainy day, the contents of the mailbox ifany, may be viewed without opening the mailbox.

Preferably, the mailbox is provided with an electric light elementdisposed on the insulating plastic bottom wall. This element ispreferably a fluorescent light but it may be of an incandescent nature.This light being itself fully enclosed it is not exposed to the elementssuch as rain and snow. Where such a light is used, the plastic sheath ispreferably provided with suitable indicia for example, the householdersname and street number.

Another advantage of this invention is that where the inner mailbox ismade of metal it is protected from corrosion due to rain, etc.

This invention is clearly of a broad or generic scope, relating to aprotective mailbox covering which may also function as a lighted housesign. Moreover, it may be provided with a pair of separately operatedlights, for example, a red and white light; the red light, when turnedon indicating the presence of mail to be picked up by the mailman.

Turning now to the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, an innerfor example, sheet metal mailbox is provided with a plurality ofapertures 11 suitably sized and disposed adjacent the mailbox wall 12.The metal mailbox 16 may be provided with a rear wall 20, if de sired.

A conventional flanged front door 14 is hingedly se- 2 cured to thebody-portion by means of conventional hinge pins 16. The door 14 isprovided with a suitable knob or handle 17.

A plastic casing 18 is provided with a suitable front flange wall 1? anda rear wall 21. The rear plastic wall may be a flanged wall like wall 19in which case the metal rear wall 20 of the inner mailbox is exposed tothe atmosphere. Optionally, the rear wall of the mailbox 10 may beabsent, in which case a unitary sheet of plastic 21 (FIG. 2) functionsas the rear wall for both the inner mailbox and the casing. In thislatter case the entire contents of the mailbox are easily viewed throughthe transparent rear wall 21.

Preferably the mailbox is provided with linear lights 22 and theconventional wiring 23 and mounted on an outdoor post 24.

FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate another embodiment of this invention. In thisembodiment a rectangular mailbox 30 is used in lieu of a curved box,said box being provided with a conventional hinged flap 31 covering aletter receiving slot disposed on a magazine receiving hinged flap 32.

In this embodiment, the transparent plastic casing 33 is provided with abottom wall 34, a front wall 35 and a pair of rear walls 36 and a pairof side walls 37. The casing 33 is molded from suitable plastic andprovided with a top rim 38 having suitable screw receiving aperturestherein. The casing is secured by a plurality of screws 39 to themailbox 30.

As in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, a suitable lightingelement 22 and suitable wiring 23 is provided. Also suitable apertures11 are provided in the inner mailbox.

Of course where the inner mailbox is also made of transparent plasticthe need for the apertures may be obviated. But even in this event,apertures 11 may be used since they provide air circulation to cool offthe lighting elements of low wattage. The plastic casing 18 or 33 ispreferably tightly fitted to the co-acting metal or plastic mailboxproper to prevent seepage. However, it may be adviseable to employ asealing compound or sealing tape at the points of juncture of plastic tometal.

This invention has been described by means of a plurality of embodimentsbut it is not to be limited to these illustrations thereof.

Thus in place of a transparent plastic casing 18 a plastic translucentcovering may be used.

Other modifications and changes of mailbox design configurations areembraced within the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. An illuminated rainproof mailbox comprising an inner mail receivingbox; an outer transparent plastic encasing cover secured in spaced-apartand water tight relationship to said inner box, said cover having ahorizontally disposed base upon which said box rests, and lighting meanssecured to said base between said encasing cover and said box.

2. An illuminated rainproof rural type mailbox adapted to function alsoas a house sign comprising a transparent substantially semi-cylindricalplastic container having a horizontal flat base, a conventional flatbase rural semicylindrical mailbox disposed in said plastic container inspaced-apart relationship to the container walls with engagement of therespective bases, and lighting means disposed on each side of saidmailbox and'secured to said base of said plastic container.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Brown Aug. 18, 1903 Cooley Mar. 6, 1928 5Payson July 5, 1932 Wenner Dec. 20, 1932

1. AN ILLUMINATED RAINPROOF MAILBOX COMPRISING AN INNER MAIL RECEIVINGBOX; AN OUTER TRANSPARENT PLASTIC ENCASING COVER SECURED IN SPACED-APARTAND WATER TIGHT RELATIONSHIP TO SAID INNER BOX, SAID COVER HAVING AHORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BASE UPON WHICH SAID BOX RESTS, AND LIGHTING MEANSSECURED TO SAID BASE BETWEEN SAID ENCASING COVER AND SAID BOX.